Sunglasses in Pop Culture

Cover of Janis JoplinBy Ellen Tarnapolsky

Sunglasses have been seen in pop culture periodically throughout the 20th century. They definitely help to accessorize whichever look you're going for, whether it be glamorous, cool or dazed out hippie.

If you love sunglasses like I do, it may interest you to learn about the different styles of sunglasses that have been popular in the 20th century. Below are some of the more popular frames and styles.

Aviator 

Most commonly manufactured by Ray Ban, Aviator sunglasses have gone up and down in popularity since they made their appearance. They were first designed in 1936 and were meant for U.S. military aviators. They became a huge trend with young people in the 1960s, which gave birth to other styles of aviators, such as mirrored, colored and wrap around styles. The popularity of aviators dropped in the 1990s, but then regained popularity around 2001 with many Hollywood celebrities.

Oversized

Like aviators, oversized sunglasses have dropped and risen in popularity since their debut. Jackie O first started the oversized sunglasses trend with her gigantic black frames in the 1960s. This quickly became a popular item amongst women.

They dropped in popularity in the 70s, when they started to be used for comedic and theater purposes. Elton John often wore oversized sunglasses as part of his shows. They again became fashionable in the 1980s amongst celebrities and street kids. They dropped popularity in the 90s with the grunge era, but we see oversized sunglasses making their way back to popular culture, with celebrities commonly seen with their coffee and oversized frames.

Tea Shades 

These are often also called "John Lennon glasses," or "Ozzy Osbourne glasses." Sometimes they are even called "granny glasses." These were most popular in the 1960s by the hippie counterculture. They come in all kinds of colors, including black, purple and red, and they are known for their psychedelic features.

When tea shades were extremely popular in the 1960s, celebrities and rock stars were often seen wearing flamboyant and elaborated tea shade sunglasses. They were often excessively large, mirrored, and were made from different colors.

The more unique the lens, the more popular they were. Rock stars like Jimi Hendrix, Mick Jagger and Janice Joplin were often seen wearing unique tea shade sunglasses. Tea shades are difficult to find today as a fashion item, but can be found in costume stores or online.

Sunglasses are an item that everyone must have, not only because they protect our eyes from the sun, but because they can add to your look and complete your wardrobe. If you love sunglasses but can't afford to constantly buy expensive pairs, buying wholesale sunglasses may be a good option for you. You can save money while still getting great looking sunglasses.

wholesale sunglasses are a great bargain if you want good quality shades. Get wholesale fashion sunglasses at wholesalefashionsquare.com.

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